Dementia Patient Charged in Death of Another Resident at Nursing Home

A 78-year old dementia patient has been charged with aggravated assault in the death of another resident at the Pennsylvania nursing home where they lived.

Police charged Ray Dunmyer Jr. with aggravated assault in the death of Thomas Shaw, 70, at the Cambria Care Center in Ebensburg, the Associated Press reports. Police say nurse’s aides discovered Shaw in a pool of blood and Dunmyer slamming a door into his head.

Cambria County District Attorney Kelly Callihan said a mental health evaluation will determine whether Dunmyer is competent to stand trial, the Altoona Mirror reports. Callihan said Dunmyer could be charged with murder as a way to get him into a long-term mental health center.

Mark Fox, a spokesman for the nursing home operator Grane Healthcare, said Dunmyer had lived at the facility for six months and had not been a problem patient. Dunmyer was transferred to a secure hospital facility after the incident.

Prior nursing home coverage:

ABAJournal.com: “98-Year-Old Woman Indicted in Death of 100-Year-Old Roommate”